A landmark weekend for endometriosis surgery at Chelsea and Westminster

In May 2023, the gynaecology team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital delivered a pioneering “super-surgery weekend”, performing 24 endometriosis procedures across just two days — a record level of activity for the service and a significant example of what can be achieved through focused, high-intensity operating lists.

The programme brought together more than 20 members of staff and combined meticulous planning with minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical techniques. Of the 24 patients treated, 23 were able to return home within 24 hours of surgery. At the time, the hospital would ordinarily perform around three major endometriosis procedures each week, making the scale of the weekend particularly significant.

The initiative formed part of Chelsea and Westminster’s use of High Intensity Theatre (HIT) lists, where teams concentrate on a specific type of procedure and streamline theatre processes to improve efficiency while maintaining high standards of patient care. For women living with endometriosis — a condition which can cause years of pain and significantly affect quality of life — improving access to specialist surgery is an important part of reducing waiting times and getting patients the treatment they need sooner.

The achievement attracted national media attention, with The London Standard reporting on the record number of endometriosis operations carried out by the London surgical team.

Find out more

Read more about the pioneering weekend:

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Gynaecology super-surgery weekend

Read the media coverage:

The Standard – London surgeons perform record number of endometriosis operations